Spotlight Photo Staff and volunteers from the SF/Marin Food Bank are cheerful in the rain during the weekly food distribution site at Pickleweed Park. There are currently at least 10 weekly food distribution sites throughout the City of San Rafael serving an average of about 3,000 households a week. Photo Credit: Jill Tokutomi Last Quiz Question Shout out to William Little for being the first...
Throughout California, there is only shelter capacity for approximately 30% of people experiencing homelessness. This same ratio holds in Marin. One of the most visible manifestations of unsheltered homelessness is encampments. According to the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, encampments: May be a core group of people who are known to one another...
Marin County remains in Tier 2 (red status) for its third week. In order for us to advance to Tier 3 (orange status) we must meet all criteria for Tier 3 for two consecutive weeks before advancing. Marin's current numbers on the data dashboard reflect the daily changes in three metrics: Cases reported per day: 4.2 Countywide test positivity: 1.5% Test positivity in the...
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will begin the first of three 55-hour weekend closures for the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. The first closure will start on Friday, March 19 at 10:00 PM and reopen on Monday, March 22 at 5:00 AM. Detours will be in place; please see the...
Dining Under the Lights is returning to downtown San Rafael every Thursday and Friday night beginning Thursday March 11! Launched in summer 2020 in partnership with the Downtown Business Improvement District, the City's Dining Under the Lights program was a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support our downtown restaurants and bars by enabling...
After careful considerations on this specific topic, the City and consultant Haley & Aldrich have developed an approach for apportioning the cost of Umbrella Permitting among participating waterfront Channel property owners. There are two costs which will need to be apportioned as a part of the umbrella private dock/marina dredging process (i.e. all dredging that occurs outside the federal...
Congratulations to the Department of Public Works (DPW) for winning an American Public Works Association (APWA) award for the Public Safety Center. DPW took this award home for the Northern California Small Cities and Rural Communities Award under the Structures category. APWA is an international professional association of public works agencies. This awards ceremony was...
The design for the Third Street Rehabilitation and Third Street Safety projects are wrapping up. Construction is anticipated on both projects to begin in the Summer 2021. The City will be hosting a virtual public meeting for the Third Street Corridor Rehabilitation & Safety Projects on March 24th from 6-7:30pm. This meeting will provide a...
Early this week, one of the buildings on the upper City Hall Parking Lot, which used to serve as the office for the temporary Station 51, was removed. The removal of this building took contributions from various City departments. For example, Parking Services and Public Works Streets assisted with blocking off the necessary parking spaces...
On the March 15th City Council Meeting, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will be providing an informational report on the 101 NB Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project. In 1941, the bridge structure at the 101 NB Central San Rafael off-ramp was built and is now no longer seismically safe. Caltrans plans to...
The City of San Rafael’s annual street resurfacing program has seen a significant loss in revenue throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. The City’s streets are maintained with gas tax revenue and with the large drop in gas sales statewide, the City’s gas tax revenue has also proportionately dropped. Even with this dramatic drop in revenue, the...
After almost 11 weeks, the old timbre bridge has been totally removed and work has begun on the foundation of the new concrete bridge. The last couple of weeks have been spent drilling the six holes where the concrete CIDH (cast-in-drilled-hole) piles will be constructed. These piles will support the bridge columns and abutments. Some...
The Vehicle Maintenance Division has been keeping busy with the regular maintenance of City vehicles. The Vehicle maintenance division usually keeps about 15-20 extra patrol car tires on hand as these are replaced frequently and if any minor defect are found. Supervisor Gerardo Paredes is also in the process of sending some vehicles that are...
Parks Division staff have taken advantage of the nice weather to get a head start on landscaping and other maintenance needs. They’ve been busy with the pruning and cleanup of the entrance median in Terra Linda, weed eating in various locations, hedging of shrubs, and pruning of roses bushes. Here you will see Alex Nacaspaca,...
treets Division staff repaired an area of concern located at the intersection of Manuel T. Freitas and Redwood Hwy this past week. A tree root was causing major uplifting of the roadway, curb, and gutter area. Early one morning, crews with the Streets Division began work to remove the damaged roadway and large root ball. ...
With the nice break in the weather, our paint crew have had a chance to do some much-needed touch up paint work along Albert's Park Lane. The crosswalks and parking stall lines were faded and in need of a touch up. Streets Division staff members Mike Castaneda and Trevor Thomas were able to apply fresh...
Yesterday, the State provided its weekly tier assessment update for Marin County. Marin remains in Tier 2 (red status) for its second week. In order for us to advance to Tier 3 (orange status) we must remain in Tier 2 for a minimum of three weeks, and we must meet all criteria for Tier 3 for two consecutive weeks before advancing. During the Marin County Board of Supervisors meeting yesterday morning, Dr. Matt Willis provided an update concerning the local COVID-19 response. His...
All current permits for COVID outdoor dining now automatically valid through November 30, 2022. City officials have approved all temporary and semi-permanent structures built in the parking lane, as a part of the current COVID Outdoor Dining program, to remain at least until November 30, 2022. The City and elected officials listened to the restaurant...
Starting Friday, March 19, 2021 at 10 PM to Monday, March 22 at 5 AM, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) will implement a 24/7 full off-ramp closure as part of their Highway 101 Northbound Central San Rafael Off-Ramp Bridge Replacement project in the City of San Rafael. This is the first of three, 55-hour weekend closures related to this project. For all roadway detours, please visit the...
After careful considerations on this specific topic, the City and consultant Haley & Aldrich have developed an approach for apportioning the cost of Umbrella Permitting among participating waterfront Channel property owners. There are two costs which will need to be apportioned as a part of the umbrella private dock/marina dredging process (i.e. all dredging that occurs...
Spotlight Photo View from Terra Linda Ridge Fire Road Photo Credit: Jim Schutz Last Quiz Question Shout out to Tamra for being the first to correctly answer the last Snapshot Quiz question! The photo featured was of the famous ladder section of the Steep Ravine Trail on Mount Tamalpais. Certainly a favorite. Congratulations Tamra and thanks for reading Snapshot! Scroll down for this week’s quiz and be...
As of March 1, regular street sweeping will commence. Check the schedule using the Sweeper Map so the sweeper can keep the streets and storm drains clean for everybody. On the map, there is an 'Info' button with basic instructions on how to use the map in the upper left just under the 'Search' bar....
This project comprises replacement and/or relocation of sewer mains serving the neighborhood within the area of Woodland Avenue from Lindaro Street to B Street to include portions of B Street, Warner Court, Woodland Court and Octavia Street. The project is currently in the design phase with Schaaf & Wheeler Engineering and construction is expected to...
This afternoon the State announced Marin County’s move to Red Tier 2 (Substantial Risk). Beginning tomorrow, the primary changes allowed under our move into Tier 2 include: Retail establishments can expand indoor capacity to 50% Indoor malls can expand indoor capacity to 50% (food courts must remain closed) Gyms and fitness studios (including yoga and dance studios) are allowed to open indoors at 10% capacity ...
View the recruitment flyer The Community Development Department is seeking a full-time Senior Planner to join the Planning team. One of the most critical positions to the City’s Planning Division, the Senior Planner oversees the Community Development Department’s Planning program. The position will be overseeing advanced plan review, developing and researching policies and making important decisions...
On January 27th Public Works staff, project managers from the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), and the Audubon Society Tiscornia Marsh project leads met with the San Francisco Bay Restoration Regulatory Integration Team (BRRIT) to discuss how to address the challenges to getting the Tiscornia Marsh permitted as a deposit location for sediments removed...
The City-hired consultant Scott Bodensteiner of Haley & Aldrich is moving forward with the next steps in coordinating the permitting process for the dredging of private docks and harbors along the San Rafael Channel. The USACE is only responsible for the dredging of the federal channel – the limits of which do not extend all...
Earlier this month the City completed the Class IV bikeway on Francisco Blvd West between Rice Drive and 2nd Street. This segment is part of the larger North-South Greenway through Marin County, which is one of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition’s highest priorities. San Rafael is thankful to all the project funding sponsors for contributing...
On January 27th the Facilities department was contacted by SRPD about a frequently used service road gate on Makin Grade that needed repair. The left gate post was rotted out and unable to be secured and the latch and hinges needed to be replaced as they were extremely rusted and worn. Facilities staff members Michael Rieser, Anthoney Heaven and Omar Garcia worked to install a...
DPW recently acquired a used bucket truck for our Maintenance Divisions. Purchasing a used truck saved the City approximately $30,000 dollars compared to a new one. The truck will also help to save the City money by not having to rely on a contractor for work requiring a bucket truck. The truck will be used...
